We Would Like to Live in Our Own House

Mdm. He is 58 years old this year, she lives with her husband in a small village in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province. The house they live in is an old brick house which has been around for several decades. Their son and his wife works very hard to make a living, and so the elderly couple helps to care for their grandchildren. 

Mdm He's house, which has survived through many seasons, collapsed during the recent flood. "The flood destroyed our house. Our electrical appliances, kitchen utensils and clothing are all buried in the ruins." As a result of this, Mdm He and her husband have to move in with their son. His house was also affected by the flood. Their food supply, appliances and other household items got soaked in water, but they are still able to continue living in their house after it was cleaned.  

Mdm. He and her husband misses their house very much. They go back when they can, and rummage through the ruins, but often leave empty-handed. “We hope we can rebuild it because we would like to live in our own house.” But this seem like a distant hope as the elderly couple does not have a steady income or savings to rebuild their dreams. 

Since June 2020, Wuyuan County suffered from four heavy downpours, which triggered floods and caused heavy losses throughout the county. After knowing about the situation, World Vision distributed 1,000 quilts, 300 family kits, 100 child friendly kits and 100 hygiene kits in four Townships, namely Dazhanshan, Sikou, Qinghua and Fuchun, on the 20 and 21 July to help provide temporary relief to those affected by the disaster.

Mdm. He received a notice asking her to collect aid donated by World Vision. When she and her son arrived at the distribution point, she received a family kit. In the kit, she found a mosquito net, food container, food utensils, flashlight, bucket, a wok and steamer. "These are really useful! Clean food utensils, bucket, wok, these are all the things we need to prepare our food," said Mdm. He.

World Vision is currently raising more funds so that we can respond to the needs of more households that have been affected by the disaster. (Interview by Cai Huamin, article written by Liao Haizhen)

▲ Mdm. He and her son carrying the family kit donated by World Vision.